Friday, June 8, 2012

The Sweetest Lady....I Never Met

A few months ago I called my friend, Marian Congleton. For my readers who will remember, Marian wasthe wife of John Congleton, the co-pilot. Marian was not feeling very well, nothing seriousshe assured me, just didn't feel like herself.I promised her I'd call back in a week or two. Well, I never would make that call.Several weeks ago I received a FaceBook message from Kristen, her granddaughter, sadly informingme that Gammie had passed away at her home perhaps in the early morning hours.My heart went out to Kristen and her family, butespecially to Kristen who had been shouldering somuch of the family responsibility since the deathof her dad just a few months ago. Her Gammie waslike a mother and a grandmother all rolled into one.

As for me, I had just begun to know Marian. It had taken me almost a year to find her whereabouts.I knew she lived in Kentucky. With only a few smalldetails though and a lot of cold calling I found a relativethat supplied me with her phone number.I remember in our first conversation she shared with mehow much she enjoyed hearing from my father whenhe would call, and how much it meant to Johnwhen he would call as his health declined.

Marian was part of that "Great Generation" thatendured the hardships of the Great Depression, a young bride in the midst of a world war. Herlegacy will be one of sacrifice, hard work, andher unfaltering faith.

It is those values that will be our foundation towhich we will build future generations.

Having her in my life for such a brief time will alwaysbe special. She was the sweetest lady....I never met.